Chapter 2

Katherine POV

I felt someone staring at the back of my head. Keeping my eyes down, I focused on the sketch taking shape in my notebook—an intricate design of swirling patterns that helped channel the restless energy pulsing beneath my skin. The familiar tingling sensation in my fingertips warned that control was essential.

Not here. Not now.

Ms. Hudson walked into the classroom, her heels clicking against the linoleum floor. "Everyone, please take your seats." Her authoritative voice immediately silenced the morning chatter.

I glanced up briefly, then froze. Three impossibly handsome boys had claimed the row of desks directly in front of me. Their broad shoulders and perfect posture set them apart from the slouching teenagers surrounding them. These weren't ordinary high school students—they radiated power. I instantly recognized what they were: werewolves, and not just any werewolves. The Griffin triplets I'd been briefed about.

Bella, the self-proclaimed social queen, leaned toward the middle triplet, her hand grazing his shoulder in a practiced move. "Edward, did you get my texts last night?" Her voice dripped with sugary sweetness.

Edward barely acknowledged her, offering only a noncommittal grunt. The slight triggered an immediate shift in Bella's demeanor. Her eyes narrowed, darting toward me with unmistakable hostility.

Something strange tugged at my consciousness—a mental pull I'd never experienced before. The triplets' proximity seemed to activate something primal inside me, making the energy in my veins buzz more intensely. I gripped my pencil tighter, focusing on my breathing techniques. This was unexpected and concerning—my weekly wolfsbane injections should have masked my werewolf side completely.

"Mind if I sit here?"

I turned to see a girl with warm brown eyes and a friendly smile sliding into the desk beside me. Despite my training to avoid close connections, I found myself welcoming the distraction.

"I'm Jasmine," she offered, tucking a strand of dark hair behind her ear.

"Katherine," I replied, trying to appear normal despite the energy surging through me.

"I've been watching how Bella and her crew have been eyeballing you all morning," Jasmine said casually. "She doesn't like being disrespected in front of her friends. Seems like you did just that. You're officially on her radar now."

"I can handle myself," I replied, thinking how cautious they'd all be if they knew my true identity—what I was capable of. "If they knew what I really am, they'd tread more carefully."

Jasmine leaned over, peering at my sketchbook. "Wow, you're really good. Do you draw and photograph a lot?"

I was surprised by her interest. Most people didn't bother getting to know the new girl. "Just a hobby. I prefer capturing landscapes with my camera."

"Your artistic skills are impressive," Jasmine said with genuine appreciation in her voice. I couldn't shake the feeling that there was something different about her—something that made me want to trust her despite my usual caution.

When the bell rang, I gathered my books quickly, eager to escape. As I passed the triplets' row, a strong hand caught my wrist. My pulse jumped at the unexpected contact.

Samuel, the oldest triplet, was examining the bruise from my morning refrigerator encounter. His dark eyes moved from my injury to my face, intense and questioning. His touch was warm—warmer than a human's—and I felt my skin tingle where his fingers made contact.

"Can I help you?" I asked, confusion and wariness battling within me.

Samuel said nothing, just released my wrist after a moment of scrutiny. But the brief contact sent an electric current racing up my arm, triggering something that felt dangerously close to recognition. I hurried away, struggling to process the strange sensation. It was like nothing I'd ever felt before—almost like a connection trying to form.

"Who are they?" I demanded once Jasmine and I were in the hallway.

"The Griffin triplets," Jasmine explained. "Samuel is the oldest—the one who grabbed you. Lucius is the most gentle, he sits in the middle. Then there's Edward, the middle triplet who has that weird thing with Bella."

"Weird how?"

"For Edward, it's just temporary entertainment. For Bella, she thinks she's the future Luna—the queen of their pack, basically."

I rolled my eyes. "Not surprising. Just a teenage girl who thinks the sun rises and sets on her command. Pathetic." I paused, considering whether to say more. "I don't believe in that kind of destiny anyway." The words carried more weight than Jasmine could understand—a subtle reference to the mate bond I'd been warned about.

"Every girl at Portland High wants their attention," Jasmine warned. "You might have bigger problems than just Bella. They're watching you, and you haven't even done anything to catch their notice."

"Great. Exactly how I wanted to start at this school." My voice dripped with sarcasm.

"Samuel hardly speaks," Jasmine continued. "Strong, silent type. His father, Alpha Griffin, is that successful real estate developer from the North District. Their family has serious pull in Portland."

I nodded, noting that the boys seemed more mature and powerful than boys in California.

"Must be something in Portland's rainwater," Jasmine joked, then added with obvious sarcasm, "They're harmless, trust me."

"I'm freezing in this hoodie, and you're telling me it's not even that cold here yet?" I said, wrapping my arms around myself.

"You'll adjust," Jasmine replied with a smile. "Takes time to get used to Portland's climate."

I heard voices from inside the classroom—the triplets and Bella. In the hallway, Bella's friends leaned against the wall, their eyes following me with unmistakable hostility.

"Let's go," I said, walking quickly away. Jasmine caught up, laughing, and began showing me around Portland High.

Throughout the day, I discovered the triplets and Bella in all my classes—too consistent to be coincidence. The triplets always claimed seats directly in front of me, their presence a constant disruption to my carefully maintained control. I assumed they were just curious about the new girl, unaware of my supernatural heritage hidden beneath the wolfsbane's effects.

By lunchtime, I welcomed the opportunity to disappear into the cafeteria crowd. One thing was becoming increasingly clear—this school held more supernatural elements than I'd anticipated, and I'd somehow landed in the center of it all.